NEW DELHI: Varun Berry, former CEO of PepsiCo Foods, is joining biscuit maker Britannia IndustriesBSE -0.54 % as its chief operating officer, Britannia said in a press release on Monday.

Berry, who quit the American beverage and snacks firm in February last year, will be the second most senior official at the biscuit and cookie maker after MD and CEO Vinita Bali. Neeraj Chandra, vice-president and COO at Britannia, will now head strategy and new business development.

And Vinod Menon, who has been heading strategy and new business development, has been named VP and CFO. During an 18-year stint at PepsiCo, Berry held different roles in India, Asia and the Middle East across foods and beverages segments.

Before taking charge of Pepsi-Co Foods, he was based in Dubai, heading International Dairy & Juice, PepsiCo's joint venture with Saudi Arabiabased dairy company Almarai. An alumni of Punjab Engineering College and an MBA from Panjab University, Berry started his career at Brooke Bond India in 1986, where he worked as marketing manager for six years.